Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2025

Isolation of Mouse Interstitial Valve Cells to Study the Calcification of the Aortic Valve In Vitro
Published on: May 10, 2021
Protective functions of liver X receptor α on calcified aortic valve: involvement of regulating endoplasmic
Lishan Zeng1,2, Xin Chen1,2, Kai Kang1,2
1Cardiovascular Department, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Key Laboratory of Metabolic Heart Disease in Fujian Province, Clinical Research Centre of Metabolic Cardiovascular Disease in Fujian Province, 20 Chazhong Road, Fuzhou 350005, China.
Aims:
Effective therapeutic drugs for calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) are lacking, although its incidence has been increasing over the past decade and is predicted to continue rising in the future. This study aimed to explore the role and potential mechanisms of liver X receptor α (LXRα) in CAVD, which offers a promising approach for treating CAVD.
Methods And Results:
Osteogenic stimulation was performed following which a substantial downregulation of LXRα was observed in human calcific aortic valves and valvular interstitial cells. Further functional investigations revealed that silencing LXRα exacerbated calcification both in vitro and in vivo. We showed that LXRα suppressed the protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase/eukaryotic initiation factor 2/activating transcription factor 4 pathway, which controls endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and promotes osteogenic differentiation, thereby slowing the course of CAVD.
Conclusion:
Our research offers fresh perspectives on how LXRα controls the pathophysiology of CAVD via regulating ERS. The findings suggest that targeting LXRα is a potential treatment strategy for treating aortic valve calcification.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling
Transducer Mechanism: Nuclear Receptors
About 48 different soluble family members of nuclear receptors are identified that can be divided into two main classes:
Hormones and Bone Tissue
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...
Regulation of the Unfolded Protein Response
Synthesis and Functions of Calcitonin
The exact mechanisms by which calcitonin operates in calcium homeostasis remain elusive, but its significance is evident in several vital...
Liver Physiology
Metabolic Regulation:
The liver is the central organ involved in regulating blood composition. It stabilizes blood glucose levels, maintaining them within the range of 70–110 mg/dL. When these levels drop, the liver breaks down glycogen reserves and releases glucose into the bloodstream. It can...

